Saturday, August 10, 2013

We have a Winner!

OK, I didn't stay up until midnight to see who won the giveaway. But it's the first thing I did this morning -- it was only 6:10 am Mountain Daylight Time when I fired up the Random Number Generator to choose the winner.  Up for grabs was a PDF copy of "Tea Party" by Cluck Cluck Sew. Not the same copy I used, that one has notes and reminders all over it for when I teach the December Jelly Roll Class at Ruth's Stitchery!

Image of Tea Party Pattern #131, Paper Pattern 
 
I love PDF patterns -- no waiting for the postal carrier!

Have I teased you enough? Here it is, the winning number:



Which happens to be Suze, who said:


I was so touched when I read Suze's comment, I thought, "I hope she wins." The forces of the Universe were at work, because 'poof'' number 78 came up on the RNG! Suze is a retired IT type, and Grandma ("Ga") who lives in Oklahoma. Since she's in the states, I'm going to ask for her postal address so I can add some fabric to her prize. She blogs at Ga's House, and I  hope you'll all go to Suze's blog and tell her "congratulations!"

Congratulations, Suze! I hope when you get the quilt made, you'll send me a photo so I can share it with other followers of 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks.

I made 17 blocks for my Mystery Block Party yesterday, so I'm up-to-speed with my BOM Rehab Block-a-Day Challenge! Photos on Monday!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Friday, August 9, 2013

TGIFF: September Windmills

I think it's important when teaching a monthly quilt class to have the next month's sample complete, and the pattern available. Cathy has done a wonderful job of having patterns available -- in fact, the patterns for the entire year are already on the wall at Ruth's Stitchery!

So far this year, I've always managed to have the sample for the following month pieced, quilted and bound before class. It was pretty close for the September Jelly Roll Party sample. I finished it July 31, and the August Jelly Roll Party was August 2.

September's quilt will be a "Just One Jelly Roll" pattern by Pam & Nicky Lintott. It's called "Windmills," and it finished at 59" x 75." I used a Moda jelly roll of "Blueberry Crumb Cake." When this fabric first came out, my friend Terry and I raced each other to complete our collections of the line!

Here it is, Quilt #29 for 2013:



I did a widely-spaced 'loops and swirls' quilting on it and used my favorite summer-weight batting, Katadan Summer Cotton, from the Idaho Quilt Barn.

Linking up to "Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?" at Confessions of a Fabric Addict (because I totally think I deserve it):


As well as "Thank Goodness It's Finally Finished Friday" (as I said at bedtime when I finally finished this quilt!) hosted this week by Amanda at BedTime Quilting:

Today is the last chance to sign up for my Giveaway on the Ho Ho Ho Blog Hop.  Go to this post and comment for a chance to win a PDF copy of "Tea Party" by Cluck Cluck Sew!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Monday, August 5, 2013

(Not Much) On the Design Wall Monday

Eight hours. Eight hours!

That's how much time it took to write my next Quilty Pleasures Scrap Squad blog post. OK, it really only took an hour or so to write the post -- the rest of the day was spent binding the quilt and trying not to scream at the Comcast tech support person because my desktop won't connect to the internet.

Sigh. I hate technology. I miss my IBM Selectric.

I did get a few more blocks made for my Vintage Memories block party at Ruth's Stitchery.



We're using "Gallery in Red and Blue" by Faye Burgos for Marcus Fabrics. Obviously, I chose the blue! I'm up to date with the group, so I have only two more months of blocks to make. But the setting is nothing simple!

Here is the photo from the pattern:

http://www.thisandthatpatterns.com/gfx/pattern_gfx/VintageMemories.jpg

The only thing missing in the patterns is pressing directions. I hate having to figure out the best way to press things! Lucky for the class members, Cathy always makes the block ahead of time and has lots of tips. 

Hey -- only five more days to comment on this post to win a copy of the pattern I used for my Ho Ho Ho blog hop project!



From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Sunday is for Scraps: or Karen Snyder is So Clever!

Karen Snyder blogs at Anna Lena Land -- you've seen links to her blog for the seasonal Block-a-Day challenge.  Look what she came up with this week!

It's the fastest, easiest way to make scrappy four patches you've ever seen!

Because Karen has a whole tutorial on this method, I'm not going to repeat her instructions. Go here to see Karen's tutorial on "Magic Four Patches." I just had to try it out for myself. Here are my step-by-step photos, but again, to see the complete tutorial, you have to visit Anna Lena Land! Be sure to tell her Aunt Marti says "hi!"

By any chance, do you remember this quilt?

 
It was the May "Vintage Schnibbles" project, Gentle Art by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. The fabric is a charm pack of "Ladies Sewing Club" from Moda.  This little quilt only required half a charm pack, so I have a pile of leftover 5" squares.  Just right for Karen's new technique!

Step 1:


Detail of Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:


Step 4:

Step 5 (this is the magic part!):

Step 6:

I think I'll use this technique to add a scrappy four-patch border to my May Schnibbles project!

You'll have to go here for the full instructions. While you're there, take a look around -- Anna Lena Land is one of my favorite places!

Linking up to another favorite, Scrap Basket Sunday.

Scrap Basket Sunday
And speaking of links, have you gone to this post to sign up for my Ho Ho Ho Blog Hop giveaway?

From the desk of your auntmartisignature